Tag: booktag

It has been a while since I’ve created my own book tag, so I thought I would make one based off our new quarantined lives. In no way am I making light of this situation, I just thought it would be fun to create a tag based off the ways we are all feeling and living at the moment. If you would like to do this tag, don’t forget to tag me so I can see your answers!

Now onto the tag.

1. Missing the Outsides – Pick a Book with Nature on the Cover

I am going to go with a new read for this one, and that is Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare. As you can see, the cover is GORGEOUS with Cordeila Carstairs on the cover and her long, red hair mixed in with red leaves. I specifically chose this book because the leaves remind me of fall which is one of my favourite times of the year!

2. There’s Nothing to Do! – Pick a Book That is Over 500 Pages

I am kind of cheating at my own tag, but this book is just so close to being 500 pages that it should count, right? Last week, I finished The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell and LOVED it. However, it is 498 pages. With all the extra content like the author’s note and whatnot, its technically over 500 pages! If I didn’t use this one, I would probably choose another Cassandra Clare book and then this would just be full of Cassandra Clare.

3. Netflix Binge – Pick a Book Series You Want to Read

I am currently making my way through a re-read of this series, and that is the An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir. I just…ugh, it is so good. Yesterday, I finished re-reading the first book and plan to dive right into A Torch Against the Night sometime in May. The third book, A Reaper at the Gates, came out last year I believe, and the fourth book, A Sky Beyond the Storm, releases in December of this year. I cannot wait to complete the series and see how it is all wrapped up. However, I need to re-read the series first.

4. Video Call Party – Pick a Book with a Large Cast of Characters

Recently, I read The Toll by Neal Shusterman which is the final book in the Scythe trilogy. It is interesting because there is so many POVs we get to hear from, some who are actual main characters like Citra, Rowan, Scythe Faraday, etc but also a lot who are random people. It really brings the world alive because we get to see snippets of the lives of characters who do so little as pass by our main characters. However, in The Toll, we do get quite a few new main characters; expanding the already big cast of characters. While I didn’t have a super strong connection to one specific character, I did really like most of them.

5. Self-Care Time – Pick a Book That is Your Guilty Pleasure

I don’t have one specific book for this, but I have a soft spot for any Sarah Dessen book. Yes, the books are so repetitive and basically have the same type of main character, but I read a lot of her contemporaries in my early high school years when I really needed them. A lot of Sarah Dessen’s books feature characters who have a hard time fitting in and finding their own group of people, and that was really important for me to read.

6. New Routine – Pick a New Release You Haven’t Read, But Want To

This is a book I just got in the mail on Wednesday, and that is House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin A. Craig. This is not a super new book (it came out in August 2019), but I have been dying to read it ever since I heard it was based off the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. When I was younger, that was my favourite Barbie movie and yes, I know the fairy tale is MUCH darker, but that is why I am so excited to explore that part of the story. I haven’t heard really anything on Instagram, YouTube, or on another blog about this book, so I am thinking about doing a review on it. Let me know what you think!

7. What is a Sleep Schedule Even? – Pick a Book that Kept You Up ALL Night

Over the last year or so, I have transitioned from a night reader to a morning reader (because I am grandma now who cannot stay up past 11 pm). However, the last book that kept me reading until 1 am was Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare. I swear, Cassandra Clare books are the only books that have kept me up in the past too. When Lady Midnight released, I read it in like two days and stayed up all night reading it. They are just so addicting and entertaining that you do not want to put down. I highly recommend Chain of Gold because it is definitely Clare’s best work (along with The Dark Artifices trilogy). Luckily, you only have to read The Infernal Devices trilogy before diving into Chain of Gold, since it does follow the characters’ children.

8. Only Essentials Please! – Pick 3 “Essential” Books From Your Shelf

This was SO hard but I brought this on myself. My three essential books Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (because I love the story and characters, but also because its long!), The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (the atmosphere and characters are to die for), and An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (I think I’ve talked about my love for it enough for you to understand why). These books just hold special places in my heart, along with having stories and characters I adore.

Well, there it is! My latest original book tag. I would love if you participated and gave it a try because it is a great way to stay connected with the book community. Since this is #StayHome theme, I thought I would use my blog to shout out some ways to help businesses and people who are less fortunate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Don’t feel obligated to donate money if you don’t have the means, but at least check out these awesome organizations!

Save Indie Bookstores (Supports indie bookstores across the U.S. but if you aren’t American, look into supporting your local bookstore!)

These are just a few of many organizations you can support during these trying times, but there are so many more. I recommend looking at your community and seeing what you can do there too. So far, I’ve only ordered a book from a local bookstore near me, but I definitely want to donate to one of the organizations I listed above. Hopefully, by my next blog post, I can tell you guys which one I decide to give to. Once again, only donate if you can!

Don’t forget to check out my blog post as well as my social media accounts which are all linked down below!

The Reading Rush (a week long readathon that takes place every summer) is hosting a shorter, surprise readathon from April 16-19 and I cannot wait to participate. There are four reading challenges along with a fun tag that I am going to answer in this post as well as share what books I plan on reading. I am already participating in the O.W.Ls readathon, but I am sure I can double up on some challenges. If not, what are a few more books?

This readathon sounds really fun and a perfect way to pass the time. I can’t wait to participate so here are the books I plan on reading!

1. Read a Book with a House on the Cover

I had to stretch this prompt a little because I don’t seem to have any books with houses on the covers. So, I settled for a cover that had buildings on it. If they are the buildings I am thinking of, than people do live in them so I think that counts… Anyways, the book is An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Yes, I’ve read this book quite a few times, but I am just so excited for the fourth book, A Sky Beyond the Storm, to come out in December. That is pretty far away, but I just love these books and want to dive back into the story.

2. Read a Book in the Same Room the Whole Time

While I’ve mostly been craving fantasy books, I feel like four fantasy novels in four days is a little unrealistic for me. I think now is a better time than ever to pick up a fun and lighthearted novel so why not give The Selection by Kiera Cass a re-read? I know I can read this book in like a day or two, and I think it will be a great mood booster. It will also be nice to use it as a break between all my fantasy reads.

3. Read a Book Set Somewhere You Wish You Could Go

Currently, I am reading The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell but it is not a small book and I feel like by Thursday, I will still be reading it so I am just going to tack it onto this TBR. This urban fantasy is set in New York City during past and present time. Honestly, I would want to visit New York City both in present time and in the early 1900s like the main character, Esta, does. It has been a dream since I was young to go there and hopefully one day soon I can.

4. Read a Book That Will Make You Smile

I hate doubling up on challenges because I like to challenge myself to read as much as possible, however, I know it is unrealistic for me to be able to read four books in four days because of the ones I’ve chosen to read. I am going to also use The Selection by Kiera Cass for this reading challenge. I’ve read this many times and the cliche, often cringey plot never fails to make me smile. And grimace, but hey, I’ll take it.

#StayHomeReadingRush Tag

1. How is Your Reading Going while Staying Home?

So far, it has been going really good. Already this month, I have gotten through two, almost three, books which is usually what I get read in a whole month during the school year. It is nice spending anywhere from one to three hours reading inside and outside, and always making a decent chunk of progress in whatever I am reading. It is helpful having all these readathons too because they motivate me to read even more.

2. Where Have You Been Reading At Home?

I have had two main reading spots lately. The first one is my couch where I retreat to first thing in the morning when I wake up to read. The second one is on my deck because we have couches and other furniture set up out there. Also, the weather has been so nice lately it is hard not to want to spend time outside.

3. Best Book You’ve Read During Isolation?

Definitely Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare, which if you have read it, might come to no surprise. The characters and atmosphere are just so addicting that I was stuck reading it for hours and hours every day. It is no short book either, so it took me surprisingly little time to read it because I just flew through it. Which is common with me for Cassandra Clare books. Another favourite I have read so far is The Toll by Neal Shusterman because it was the conclusion to the Scythe series which I am a huge fan of. It was bittersweet but the story took me completely by surprise to say the least.

4. What’s Your Favourite Feel Good Book?

Honestly, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is my feel good book. I always have such a fun time reading it and it makes me so happy. Even though Cath can be annoying, she is a relatable main character for any reader and writer, and overall, the story is adorable.

5. Book You Wish You Could Buy or Borrow from the Library?

I want to buy A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir, the third book in the An Ember in the Ashes series because I only own the first two books. I want to complete my collection of her books but when I first read it, I borrowed it from the library to save money. Now, I want to own it!

6. Author You Want to Shout Out During This Time?

The host of this readathon, Ariel Bissett, shouted out A.S. King and I have to agree with that. I’ve only read one of her books, Dig, but she has such a captivating way of story telling that resulted in her book completely destroying and amazing me. I cannot wait to read more of her books and I cannot recommend her enough..

7. What is Your Reading Rush TBR?

I don’t need to answer this because I just did above, but if you are also participating, let me know what you are reading in the comments!

Those are all the books I plan on reading during the #StayHomeReadingRush readathon, and also my questions to the tag portion. I hope you enjoyed and don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media accounts linked down below.

Since the school season is in full swing, I thought it would be appropriate to do the coffee book tag as coffee is the one and the only thing that is getting me through my life currently. I am a HUGE coffee addict and have been since I was 14. I use the excuse that I started working early and long hours when I was 12, so I needed it to survive, but now I have no other excuse except I am just addicted. But I’ve come to terms with that by now.

1. Black: Name a Series That’s Tough to Get Into But Has Hardcore Fans

Personally, I love my coffee black so this is probably my favourite question. I would have to say a series that is tough to get into but has hardcore fans is The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. If you did not read them when you were younger and YA was still in its earlier stages, I feel like it is really hard to fall for Clare’s first series. The writing isn’t as good and it is very basic YA, to be honest. However, the people who do like it (like myself) don’t usually just like it but are hardcore fans. This is one of my favourite series but if I read it for the first time now, I doubt I would like it as much.

2. Peppermint Mocha: Name a Book That Gets More Popular During the Winter or a Festive Time of Year

Harry Potter is always popular, but as soon as winter creeps closer, it is suddenly on everyone’s TBRs. I know personally, I tend to watch the movies during the winter season so I can attest that this is true. Harry Potter does get more popular during the wintertime and I am not complaining. It has that cozy atmosphere that people crave to read during the cooler months.

3. Hot Chocolate: What Is Your Favourite Children’s Book?

It has been a long while since I read these books, but I remember having such fond memories of them and just devouring one after the other in the series. And that series is the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park. I borrowed the books from my cousin when I was younger, but ended up “borrowing” them for at least a few months. They are fun and adorable, and I suddenly have the urge to give them a re-read now!

4. Double Shot of Espresso: Name a Book That Kept You On the Edge of Your Seat From Start to Finish

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black was yet another hyped up YA book that I was skeptical at how much I would actually enjoy it, but in the end, I really liked it and flew through it. It is on the shorter side, and I found myself flipping each page in anticipation for more. I lived for the conflict and the characters and had a blast reading it.

5. Starbucks: Name a Book You See Everywhere

This is a book I just finished reading that is incredibly hyped up and easily found on every BookTube channel. While I thought it was a good book, it didn’t blow my mind like it did for many other people. That book is Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. It was a solid 4 star read, but nowhere near a favourite for me. I can’t escape it though. It’s everywhere!

6. That Hipster Coffee Shop: Give a Book By An Indie Author a Shoutout

Sadly, I haven’t gotten around to many indie author books so I think that is something I will have to work on in the future! Let me know below if you know any good indie authors I should check out.

7. Oops! I Accidentally Got Decaf: Name a Book You Were Expecting More From

Once again, I am going to have to say Six of Crows. Due to its immense amount of hype, I went in expecting an almost flawless book that I just couldn’t help but adore. I did like it, but it was nowhere near the 5-star read I was hoping for.

8. The Perfect Blend: Name a Book Or Series That Was Both Bitter and Sweet, But Ultimately Satisfying

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia is a YA contemporary standalone about a girl who is trying to survive her last year of school and continue anonymously running her webcomic, Monstrous Sea, which happens to be the biggest webcomic online. Juggling all this, it is inevitable for Eliza to go through ups and downs. Especially considering her shyness and anxiety, but with the help of friends, especially Wallace, she learns how to attempt to balance it all. Sometimes Eliza annoyed me, but ultimately, I loved the book and it wrapped up in a way that was satisfying to me.

Those are all my questions for the coffee book tag and I hope you enjoyed! Don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media accounts which are linked down below. Also, if you want to support me and my blog, buy me a coffee with the link down below! Thanks for reading 🙂

I thought it would be nice to just do a fun, easy post for today, which is why I am doing a book tag!

As a reader, I have faced many difficult problems such as trying to bring a book with me everywhere I go even when I can’t fit it into my bag, or buying too many books when I already own 50 that I haven’t read…so, I thought it would only be fitting to do a whole tag about these reader problems that I am sure many of you can agree with.

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?

I am a huge mood reader. Usually, I will know what I want to read next because I will see it on my shelf or be thinking about it while I finish the book I’m currently reading. If I don’t though, I will finish whatever book I’m reading and then stand in front of my shelf until I can decide. Sometimes it takes a while, but I usually have a good feeling about what I’m interested in reading.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?

Depending on what book it is and how much I am hating it. If it is a book in a series I am reading or a book by a favourite author of mine, I will most likely try to finish it even if I’m not loving it. However, if it is just a book I picked up to give a shot but it is SO dull or something I feel like I’ve already read, 100% I will drop it. Actually, contradicting what I said in the beginning, I was reading One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake, the third book in the Three Dark Crowns series which I was enjoying, and I actually ended up DNFing that book! That is a rare case, but it happens.

3. The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, but so far away on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?

I do try to catch up because if I haven’t reached my Goodreads goal by the end of the year, it usually means I am super, SUPER close. Last year, I was around three books off of my Goodreads goal and only had a week left before the new year. I spent ALL my time during that week reading. I remember that I was even reading on New Year’s Eve WHILE I was watching the ball drop. I was determined and I managed to complete my goal with 10 minutes to spare!

4. The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?

Honestly, I am not that fazed if my books in a series match up or not. If I have a choice, I will buy the same covers for books in a series, but if I cannot find matching covers, it’s whatever. This used to annoy me, but now I like when my bookshelf looks mismatched and “quirky”.

5. Everyone and their mother loves a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?

Not too many of my friends read the same books as me…okay, scratch that. NONE of my friends read the same books at me unless I beg them to read a favourite book of mine, so because of that, I will head right onto YouTube and devour some rant reviews of that book. They are a lot of fun to watch, even when they are on books I love because everyone is entitled to their own opinion and people who get mad at rant reviews need to just chill!

6. You’re reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal?

Oh, if I am in public and reading a book, my eyes will be dry no matter what scene I’m reading. The idea of crying in public makes me incredibly uncomfortable…not that I haven’t, but I try to avoid it. Also, it is really hard to get me to cry while reading books just in general!

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will, you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?

If it is a book I LOVE, oh I will happily re-read ALL the previous books in the series. For example, for every single one of the Dark Artifices trilogy books, I have re-read the book prior to them in preparation for each new novel. I just adore the characters and story so much, that I will jump at any opportunity to read them.

8. You do not want anyone. ANYONE. borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people nope when they ask?

Well, the only people who ever ask me to borrow books are people I trust, but I guess if someone else were to ask me who I would NOT want touching my books, I would lie and say, “Oh…I actually lent that out!” or “Sorry, but I’m reading it right now actually”.

9. Reading ADD. You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?

I have written 1,000,000 blog posts about this topic, so I am just going to quickly sum up what I say in them. Re-read an old favourite book of mine, watch reading vlogs, and do everything BUT reading for a little while.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?

Lately, I’ve been preparing for my new part as “broke college student”, so I haven’t bought a book for myself in a couple months! The library has been my favourite place on this earth recently, and I do weekly trips to it even.

11. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?

When I do buy new novels, if they are part of a series I’ve been reading, they are usually my next read. However, if they are the first book in a series or just a book I’ve seen around a lot that I decided to pick up, their chances of getting picked up in the next month or so are very, very slight…sometimes, new books sit on my shelf for up to a year!

There it is! Those are my answers to the Reader Problems Book Tag and I hope you enjoyed. Don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media accounts linked down below. Thanks for reading 🙂

Today is the first day of my Saturday blog posts and I am very excited to begin it with a music and book-related post. I know there is a book tag called the “Playlist Book Tag” which may be exactly what this is, but I was just too lazy to search up what the questions were so I will only be matching books to some of the songs on my playlist. Which is still going to be a lot of fun!

My music taste mostly revolves around classic rock from the 70s and 80s and of course, some pop bands like The Beatles. My favourite band in the ENTIRE world though is Queen. However, I only included two of their songs on here because, for some of their songs, I had a hard time coming up with books that matched them.

Anyways, here are 10 songs from my playlist matched with 10 books!

Summer Song by Himesh Patel

& Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

This song is from the movie, Yesterday, which I saw and adored so I had to include some of its soundtrack on here. Summer Song reminds me of Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson because it is a summery contemporary book. Most importantly though, I feel as if the entire book is summarized in the first verse of Summer Song:

Sun’s in the skyAnd nothing can go wrongKiss winter goodbyeAnd sing this summer song

This first verse is basically what the main character’s best friend, Sloane, is saying to her in the letter she leaves behind after mysteriously disappearing. She is encouraging Emily to forget about her and live her life to achieve the best summer ever.

Across the Universe by The Beatles

& The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

The Light Between Worlds is a YA urban fantasy that is extremely atmospherical and whimsical which I think already, pairs well with this beautiful song by The Beatles. The book is all about two sisters struggling to settle back into their world after living in a magical forest for several years, and how one of the sister’s struggles more than the other.

Images of broken lightWhich dance before me like a million eyesThey call me on and on across the universeThoughts meander like aRestless wind inside a letter boxThey tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe

I feel that this is such an accurate description of how Evelyn feels throughout the story. She is living in the real world, yet feels a call from her true home which might as well be across the universe. Even when surrounded by loved ones and things that make her happy, a piece of her is missing and is lost back in The Woodlands.

My Fairy King by Queen

& The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

I think this is a pretty obvious choice, but the dark and strange lyrics and tone of My Fairy King by Queen really reminds me of The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. The Cruel Prince is about the dark side of faeries that is often not portrayed in literature and this is exhibited well in the song. Also, the beauty of the Fairyland is shown through Queen’s lyrics and relates to how I picture the world in The Cruel Prince.

They turn the milk into sourLike the blue in the blood of my veins(Why can’t you see it?)Fire burnin’ in hell with the cry of screaming pain(Son of heaven set me free and let me go)Sea turns dry no salt from sandSeasons fly no helping handTeeth don’t shine like pearls for poor men’s eyes(No more)

These words just really remind me of how I think our main character, Jude, sometimes views the Fairy world. Even if she loves it and wishes to be apart of it, she knows that she needs to be terrified of all it can do.

Chances by Five for Fighting

& Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Considering the name, I feel like this is fitting for what our main character is going through in Everything, Everything. Maddy has a disease where she is allergic to almost everything, and therefore, cannot leave the house. When a boy named Ollie comes along though, she starts realizing she needs to take chances in her already chanced life in order to feel like she is truly living.

Chances are we’ll find a new equationChances roll away from meChances are all they hope to be

These words reflect what I think Maddy felt before she met Ollie, but also after. Chances are chances, it is our choice if we want to take them.

I Want to Break Free by Queen

& When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Our main character, Dimple, in When Dimple Met Rishi has always struggled with her parents understanding her desire for education over finding a boyfriend/husband. When she finally convinces her parents to let her go to a summer camp for aspiring web developers, she doesn’t realize it’s still to do just that: set her up with the son of their friends. Because of this, I feel like I Want to Break Free is a fitting song.

This is basically what Dimple feels towards her parents. She is mad when she learns the truth and feels that they aren’t listening to what she wants, but instead, what they want.

Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer

& The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

It has been a while since I read this book, but I do vividly remember the main character, Belly, being absolutely in love with her older, family-friend, Conrad. Kiss Me is basically what Belly is constantly thinking when she thinks of him.

Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilightLead me out on the moonlit floorLift your open handStrike up the band, and make the fireflies danceSilvermoon’s sparklingSo kiss me

Again, I would NOT be surprised if these lyrics were something Belly said in the book. Not at all.

Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine

& The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The reason why I associated these two things together is that in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie struggles to make friends as he starts his first year at high school. This is hard, but even before that, Charlie has had a difficult life. I feel like Dog Days Are Over perfectly symbolizes how he feels once he meets Sam, Patrick, and their friends, and finally, becomes a part of their group.

The dog days are overThe dog days are done

It’s simple, but once Charlie finds his group in school, he finally feels like he belongs. Truly, his dog days ARE over.

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

& To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Unwritten is the MOST 2000s song I have heard, but at the same time, I love it for that. It reminds me of To All the Boys because Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved before and for the most part, lives in a fantasy world when it comes to love and relationships. Her life is definitely not unwritten, but as she becomes close with certain characters in the book, she learns to live her life as more of a “go with the flow” and “take chances” than she did at the beginning.

These lyrics are a great reminder on how we should all live our lives, unwritten and unplanned. Well, okay, maybe plan a little bit because otherwise, you might just be wandering around, but don’t pass up on opportunities just because they aren’t written into your 5-year life plan!

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

& Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

I know, I am surprised it took me THIS long to include a Cassandra Clare book but finally, we made it. Not only do I feel like ALL of the characters in QoAaD get hit by a landslide, whether that is in their relationships or just overall life, but the BOOK is a landslide too. Gut-wrenching plot point after heartbreaking plot point…I definitely feel as if I get swept away by the rubble of my heart afterwards.

Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?Can the child within my heart rise above?Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?Can I handle the seasons of my life?

I really hear a lot of Julian and Emma in these lyrics if you know what I mean…just because they are definitely struggling with some things…I also think a common theme throughout this book is that a lot of the characters are realizing they aren’t children anymore and have to learn to understand everything they are feeling almost constantly.

Let It Be by The Beatles

& Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Eliza Mirk is a quiet and very introverted main character that I think a lot of us relate to. I know I do. Not only is she a creative person, being the creator of the webcomic Monstrous Sea, but she also deals with anxiety, which is something I can definitely relate to. However, she lets her anxiety for a majority of the book, get the best of her. When people try to help her and tell her the way she lives her life isn’t that healthy, she basically says “let it be”. It takes her a while to realize things need to change and that “letting it be” isn’t always the best answer.

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on meShine on ’til tomorrow, let it beI wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to meSpeaking words of wisdom, let it be

So many people in Eliza’s life try to help her and get her out of her chair, and I think these lyrics reflect that conflict she has with them.

Wow! That was a long one, but there it is, me matching books with my playlist…anwyays, I hope you enjoyed it because I had so much fun creating this blog post! Don’t forget to comment below some of your favourite songs on your playlist, and also make sure you check out my last blog post which will be linked down below. Thanks for reading 🙂

Since I watched Endgame recently, I thought it would be fun to make a book tag related to it. I love doing book tags and making them, so why not? Anyways, I don’t have much more to say other than that, but I hope you enjoy! If you want to do this, then I tag you! Make sure you also tag me though in your post so I can see all of your answers 🙂

Soul Stone – Name a Character In a Book You Would Bring Back to Life…Or Kill (Warn of Spoilers!)

SPOILERS FOR THE DARK ARTIFICES TRILOGY BY CASSANDRA CLARE BELOW!!!

Okay, a character I would bring back to life with the Soul Stone would 100% be Livvy Blackthorn from The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. I like Livvy as a character, but I would mostly bring her back because of how her death affects her entire family. It changes Julian for the worse, it drives Ty to make some really bad choices, and overall, it just destroys the entire Blackthorn family. And I hate seeing them so depressed so 100% I would bring her back. She also just did not deserve to die!! Why Cassandra Clare? Why?

Time Stone – Name Your Favourite Classic

Out of the classics I read, I think my favourite might be The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I have a feeling it won’t stay that forever, but I haven’t read many classics yet. Anyways, the reason I think this may be my favourite is because of how real it all felt. Every time I picked up this book to read it, I felt fully submerged with the characters and what they were facing. It led me to feel a LOT of things while reading it too.

Space Stone – Choose a Magical Object, Weapon, Etc You Would Want From a Book

This one is so easy. Obviously, I would want Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak! That has always been the magical object I have wanted because to be able to just put on a cloak and be invisible BUT warm at the same time is a dream come true. Also, I have always wanted to wear a cloak but apparently cloaks aren’t in fashion right now…but this way, I would be able to wear it but no one would give me weird eyes while I wander down the street!

Mind Stone – Choose a Character You Wish Was Explored More in a Book, Series, Etc

Okay, this character has a point of view we follow in The Dark Artifices trilogy but that is NOT enough. Cassandra Clare, I need a whole spinoff series about Mark Blackthorn. I don’t care if it is his journey in Faerieland or if it takes place after The Dark Artifices. I just want to see and learn more about Mark.

Reality Stone – Choose a Book Universe You Would Want to Live In

Usually, I would say Harry Potter or even the Shadow World, but after reading The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, I want to live in THAT Faerie world. While there is a lot of dark and cruel things about it, it is like living in a magical historical period of time and that is just really appealing to me.

Power Stone – Choose a Magical Ability You Would Grant Yourself

Apart from invisibility, I would definitely want the ability to read other people’s minds. However, only when I want to. If I had to listen to other people’s thoughts constantly, I would go insane, but if it was something I could control then YES. I am nosy and overthink what people are thinking about me, so this could only be good. Right?

That is all for my Avengers: Endgame book tag, and I hope you enjoyed! Don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media accounts which are linked down below. Thanks for reading 🙂

I thought it was time to create another reading tag, and since I love the band Queen, I decided to make it Queen-themed. I am so excited to answer these questions, and I hope you guys do as well so if you do this tag, make sure to tag me so I can see all your great answers! Anyways, onto the questions:

1. Bohemian Rhapsody – Name a Book With An Unexpected Twist

Bohemian Rhapsody is Queen’s most iconic song because of how different and unexpected it was, so for this question, I want you to name a book that’s plot took you by surprise. For this, I’m going to have to go with Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare. I won’t say what exactly was unexpected, but if you’ve read it, you probably know what I’m talking about…

2. Save Me – Name a Book That You Haven’t Gotten Over Yet

Save Me is about how people deal with a break-up, so what book have you still not gotten over yet? Again, sorry for repeating, but I’m going to have to say Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare. That book was just so long (912 pages) that when you finally finish it, it feels out of the ordinary to not be reading it. Plus, it was the last book in The Dark Artifices trilogy, my favourite trilogy, so of course, I haven’t gotten over it yet!

3. Under Pressure – Nae a Book That You Feel Pressured To Read

While I’m enjoying it, I did feel obligated to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It is a classic, and a book a lot of people love. I felt like I had to read it (I’m almost done it), along with a lot of other classics I’ve recently finished or am reading, to make myself seem like a more diverse and “real” reader. Again, I only read books I like, but I couldn’t help but feel a little bit of pressure to explore the classics.

4. Love of My Life – Name a Book That Really Is, The Love of Your Life

Cassandra Clare’s name is on here a LOT, but that’s because I love SO many of her books. For this one, I’m going to have to say that Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare is really the love of my life. It’s so amazing, setting the trilogy up for even more amazingness since it’s the first book in the trilogy, and ugh, every time I read it I’m just happy.

5. Don’t Stop Me Now – Name a Book That You Can Read In One Sitting

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell!!! While this book is over 400 pages, I could easily, if given the time, sit down and read it in only one sitting. It is so addictive and easy to read, with a story that makes me warm and fuzzy inside. It reads like a movie kind of because I can easily imagine all of these characters speaking their dialogue too me and that makes the book so much better.

6. Another One Bites the Dust – Name a Book That You DNFed

I’m going to go with the last book I DNFed which I believe, was Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova. It wasn’t that I hated this book, it was that I found it really difficult to imagine the scenes before me in my head, and also I didn’t feel connected to anything in the book. Not the characters, the world, the plot, nothing. I do want to give it another try sometime because I thought I was going to really like this book, but at the time I tried to read it, it just wasn’t working.

7. I Want to Break Free – Name a Book That Should Have Been a Standalone

Honestly, I would have been satisfied enough with The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancy being a standalone instead of part of a trilogy because, I’m sorry, but the last two books weren’t great at all. He would have had to fix some things to make it work, but it would have been easy enough to tie everything up in The Fifth Wave to make it a standalone. The second and third book included too many POVs, most which I didn’t like, and the plot was sooo boring that I couldn’t even finish the second one. I tried jumping into the third one to see what would happen, but I ran into the same issues and ended up spoiling myself on purpose.

8. Killer Queen – Name the Book That Got You Into Reading

Killer Queen was Queen’s first big hit, so I thought this question was appropriate to the song. I’ve mentioned this numerous times on my blog, but I’m happy to say it again because I love hearing about what books got people into reading! For me, it was Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Of course, I read little chapter books before reading this one, but this was the book that introduced me into middle grade/YA and was the first book series I became absolutely obsessed with for like two years. I found this book when I was 10 and didn’t even try any other book until I was 12…that was how much I loved it.

9. We Are the Champions – Name An Underrated Book You Love

A lot of people do love this book, but I just think it deserves more praise that it gets. It is such a relatable and important book for those with anxiety, especially social anxiety, and that is Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia. I looove this book and could read it over and over again. Not only is the anxiety portion really nice to relate to, but overall, the book has amazing plot and characters as well!

10. We Will Rock You – Name a Book Everyone Has Heard Of

I could go with the simple answer to this which is Harry Potter, but instead, I am going to say Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi because that was by far the most hyped book of last year. I also have yet to read it, but everywhere I go, I see that book and it screams at me to read it so I will definitely get to it soon!

11. Now I’m Here – Name An Anticipated Release Of Yours That Just Came Out

The last anticipated release of mine that came out was Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare, and that was on December 2nd, 2018. That was by far, my most anticipated release of the year and my 2019 anticipated releases don’t start coming out until January 29th so I’m going to have to answer QoAaD again! If you want to find out what my 2019 releases are, check out my blog post for it HERE.

12. The Show Must Go On – Name a Book (Series or Standalone) That Ended, But That You Want Another Book From

I haven’t read The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan in forever and a bit, but I remember wanting more. There was something that didn’t make it feel like an ending which is kind of understandable considering we do see these characters in the Magnus Chase series and also the Trials of Apollo series. Still, I could always read more from the Heroes of Olympus series.

Yes, it is THAT time of the year when the Christmas related tags come out and the festivities begin! Today, I will be doing the Festive Christmas Book Tag which was originally created by GirlReading on YouTube. But yeah, I’m feeling festive so let’s just get into this!

1. A Fictional Family You Would Like to Spend Christmas Dinner With?

Fitting since I’ve been lost in the world of The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare which has by far, the best family dynamic I have ever read. So yeah, obviously I would LOVE to spend Christmas dinner with the Blackthorns! All of them seem so awesome plus they are Shadowhunters so some sort of drama would go down (whether it was the need to fight enemies or romantic drama…) and I would be here for that entertainment. Plus Mark would be there and I love Mark so…sorry Christina.

2. A Bookish Item You Would Like to Receive As a Gift

I would really love to receive some sort of The Dark Artifices related poster…perferably that one with Julian that came Cassandra Clare gave out at some of her events because it is GORGEOUS. Can you tell I am obsessed with The Dark Artifices?

3. A Fictional Character You Think Would Make a Perfect Christmas Elf?

Hahaha, Leo Valdez from The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan would because it is kind of a running joke in at least in the first and maybe also the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series (which now I want to re-read), that he looks like a mischevious Christmas Latino elf. I’m all here for it.

4. Match a Book To It’s Perfect Christmas Song

Hmmm, this was tricky for me. Ultimately, I decided that To All the Boy I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han would go perfectly with All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carrey because the whole plot is Lara Jean writing these secret love letters to boys, they get sent out and then she claims she never wanted that but really, all she wants is one of these relationships to work out…ALL SHE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS IS PETER K.

5. Bah Hambug. A Book Or Fictional Character You’ve Been Disappointed In And Should Be Put On The Naughty List?

Hands down, The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancy. I had such high expectations going into this sequel to The Fifth Wave because I really, really enjoyed it at the time. When I read The Fifth Wave, I was so, so excited to jump into the next book but it let me down SO much and I never even ended up finishing it so yeah…onto the naughty list ya go.

6. A Book Or Fictional Character You Think Deserves More Love and Appreciation And Deserves To Be Put On the Nice List?

I have two choices for this, one is a book and another is a character. The book is The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth because it is such a fantastic and atmospheric story that deserves more praise! It takes place in rainy England in the 1950s following two girls struggling to find their place in the world after returning from a fantasy land called The Woodlands. It came out two months ago so go read it! As for the character that deserves more appreciation and love, that is Christina from The Dark Artifices series by Cassandra Clare. I love Christina and while I love Emma too, I feel like people focus on her more than Christina just because she is strong and badass (which Christina is too). Christina is also compassionate and loving and just deserves the world.

7. Red, Gold, and Green. A Book That Has A Wonderfully Christmasy Feel To It

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling (my favourite book in the series) gives me all the Christmasy vibes. It is blue with gold stars and red fire and just gives me all those cold, winter feels. Also, the atmosphere in the book is really wintery and cozy so it fits the cover. Now I want to go and watch it with a blanket and cup of hot chocolate but I have class soon so…

8. A Book Or Series You Love So Much, You Want Everyone To Find Under Their Christmas Tree This Year So They Can Read It And Love It Too?

THE DARK ARTIFICES TRILOGY BY CASSANDRA CLARE. Honestly, this trilogy has my heart and soul and I could read it over and over again without getting bored. The characters are amazing and diverse, and I see myself in a lot of them. The world is also incredibly rich and fascinating, and the storyline always keeps my eyes glued to the page until I’m forced to flip past the final one. Everyone needs to read it, however, you have to read Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices trilogy before which is like 9 books…but it’s worth it!

Anyways, that is all for this Festive Christmas Book Tag and I hope you enjoyed! If you want to do this tag then I tag you because it was a lot of fun to do, and really got me in the Christmas spirit. Don’t forget to check out my last blog post, as well as my social media accounts which are linked down below. Thanks for reading 🙂

This week was a rollERCOASter so I only wrote and edited this blog post last night…but, it is up and here obviously because you are reading it so at least I got it done! Anyways, I really wanted to make another book tag and since I’ve had to read lots of classics lately, and I thought a classic literature tag was the way to go. I hope you enjoy these questions and if you want to do this tag then I tag you! Just make sure you tag me in your post so I can read your answers 🙂

1. Oedipus the King – Pick a Book With An Interesting Family Dynamic

(WARNING: Spoilers for The Mortal Instruments series below)

Oedipus the King is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles and follows Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who learns the true origins of his past…and it is a little shocking, to say the least. A family like that but in more current literature is the Morgenstern family from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Not only do Clary and Jace fall in love and then think they are siblings, but even when they find out they aren’t we still learn that Clary has kissed her brother because he is a sick and twisted demon baby…yeah, interesting isn’t a strong enough word to describe this family.

2. Macbeth – Pick a Book That Bleeds Murder and Betrayal

(WARNING: Spoilers for the Harry Potter series below)

Macbeth is the well-known Shakespeare play that follows a man (Macbeth) who becomes king after killing the king…and then is basically driven mad with an unquenchable thirst for power. A book with a similar plotline to this that contains lots of murder and betrayal is honestly the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. I mean, Harry’s parents are killed by Voldemort when he is a baby, Neville’s parents were killed by Bellatrix also when he was a baby, Quirrel betrays everyone by housing Voldy on the back of his head, Dumbledore dies, Snape dies, Mad-Eye Moody dies, Hedwig dies, Fred dies, and honestly, Harry can’t nor doesn’t trust anyone towards the end of the series. Is that enough death and betrayal???

3. The Odyssey – Pick a Character Who Is On a Journey to Get Home

The Odyssey by Homer is one of two epic Greek poems where the main idea is that Odysseus is trying to return home. A character that reminds me of Odysseus and whose series also includes Greek mythology is Apollo from The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan! The whole plot for this trilogy is that Zeus casts Apollo down to earth as a mortal with the task of earning his godly powers back by completing tasks. Much like Odysseus, he is struggling to return home and the journey is not easy. I haven’t finished reading this series, but I am hoping to in the near future…however, my TBR list is massive so maybe we will say just sometime in the future for now.

4. Romeo and Juliet – Pick a Romance Book…But That Has a Twist

(WARNING: I spoil Eleanor and Park below so…)

We all know the story, Romeo and Juliet, right? Honestly, I have never read it but I get the gist of it. Two young (very young) people fall in love even though their families hate each other, but they can’t help it! Raging hormones and such…well, you know us teens. Anyways, they love each other so, so much that when one of them fakes their own death, the other one kills themselves because they can’t bear to be parted from their beloved. Crazy, I know. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is an amazing contemporary following two characters, Eleanor and Park who develop a strange, but an adorable relationship, however, their story doesn’t tie up with a pretty bow. While neither of them kills themselves, Eleanor just disappears from Park’s life and I don’t think any of us were expecting that. Much like Romeo and Juliet.

5. Pride and Prejudice – Pick a Strong Female Character Who Goes Through Lengths to Prove Herself

Jane Austen wrote many books where the main character was a female struggling in a world of men, and even today we still see women treated unfairly. One character that comes to mind that has had to prove herself a lot during her story is Gwenyth Shepard from Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier. In Ruby Red, Gwen is from a family of time-travellers, however, her cousin, Charlotte is thought to have the gene. When Gwen travels back in time though, she realizes that she’s the one with the gene and is thrust into a world of chaos and time-travel. Since Gwen is unexpectedly the time-traveller of the family, she doesn’t have the training in languages, history, arts, etc that Charlotte does, and because of that, she is constantly undermined by most of the characters in this trilogy. While Gwen is no world-changer of a character, she is just a normal, teenage girl that is trying to weave her way in life and on top of all that, time-travel as well yet is constantly weighed down by the doubt of others…mostly men, to be honest.

6. Lord of the Flies – Pick a Book Where Morals Are Very Grey

Lord of the Flies was not a favourite of mine but I had to include it in this tag. It follows a group of boys on an island when their plane crashes after they flee London which is currently under attack by the Germans. Without any adults, their responsibility and morals are really put to the test when they find themselves battling against nature, and themselves. I think all books need characters who are “morally grey” because that is a reality for a lot of us. Most people are neither good or bad, give or take a few, and that needs to be reflected more in literature. One series that has a quite a few characters like this is the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. Most of the characters are overall decent people but would do anything for the people they love or even just for themselves. They don’t always make the right or best decisions, and sometimes people have to pay for that.

7. The Hobbit – Pick a Character Who Leaves Everything Behind For An Adventure

I love The Hobbit movies but have yet to read the books…I know, I know, but honestly, I find the books a little hard to read. One character that reminds me of this question, and I am not saying she reminds me of the main character who is a hobbit, but that is Margo from Paper Towns by John Green. Margo literally picks up everything and leaves her family and friends without an answer to go on an adventure doing who knows what and where. She is spontaneous and free-spirited because of that and is always seeking an adventure.

8. The Great Gatsby – Pick a Character Who Strives For the “American Dream”

The Great Gatsby takes place during the Roaring Twenties where there was lots of dancing, flappers, jazz, and the gloriously, wealthy idea of the “American Dream” which is something the main character chases. However, the “American Dream” is kind of unattainable and our main character doesn’t realize this until it’s too late. A character in another book that reminds me of this, as someone who loves the lights, the camera, and the action I guess you could say, is Lola Nolan from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. Lola loves dressing up different each day, never wearing the same outfit twice. She also expects to live happily ever after with her boyfriend, Max and have a perfect life…but the reality is a little different than that.

9. The Tempest – Pick a Character Who Is On the Run

Another Shakespeare plays but this one is a little different and weirder than his others in my opinion. In this story, Prospero and his daughter, Miranda are hiding from his evil brother but she doesn’t know. There is love, betrayal, and all that fun Shakespeare stuff. A character who is very much on the run is Day from the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu(or I guess series now, actually) because he is a convicted criminal on the run from the very corrupted government, called the Republic. So yeah, Day!

10. The Secret Garden – Pick a Book That Has a Secret World

Okay, again, I have never read The Secret Garden…but I have seen the movie. I wish I read it when I was younger because I just don’t think I would enjoy it as much now! However, as it says in the title, the main character of this story is a young girl who finds yes, a secret garden. Lots of YA books have secret worlds hidden in them, amongst all the normal, much like Mary finding the secret garden which brings her a lot of good. In The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth, our two main characters, Evelyn and Philippa, as well as their brother, discover a secret world amongst the chaos of World War II, called The Woodlands. The Woodlands is a magical world of nature and beauty but much like our characters world back home, a war is upon them. The siblings stay and help out with the war, but once it is over they are sent back despite Evelyn’s protests and have to learn to adjust in the real world. They all needed this world badly for different, reasons, and it helped bring out their true selves in the real world because of it!

Okay! So those were my ten questions for the classic literature book tag, and I hope you enjoyed. Please tag me if you decide to do this tag because I’d love to see your answers! Don’t forget to check out my last blog post, as well as my social media accounts for more bookish and writing related content. Everything is linked below, thanks 🙂

I had a different idea for what today’s blog post was going to be, but that kind of ended up failing. It’s okay though because I love reading, and I also LOVE Disney so this seemed like the perfect book tag to do. Anyways, without further ado here are my answers to the Disney Book Tag!

(P.S. I did not create this tag, I actually don’t know who did but if you do know, tell me so I can credit them!)

The Little Mermaid – A Character That Is Out of Their Element…A Fish Out of Water!

Haha, the first character who came to mind when I read this question was Apollo from the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan! This is perfect because, in the first book, Apollo is cast down to earth by Zeus and made mortal until he can complete trials to gain back his godly powers. Apollo is definitely out of his element on earth and it is hilarious watching him navigate life as a mortal.

Cinderella – A Character Who Goes Through Major Development

Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter series! In the first few books, he is just a sweet, scared little boy but by the last book, he is truly a brave Gryffindor…still sweet though! Neville has been through a lot in his life, just as much as Harry with losing his parents and all that, so for him to come out stronger rather than broken is definitely a major development.

Snow White – A Book with an Eclectic Cast of Characters

When I think of a big eclectic cast of characters, I always come back to the same book series and that is The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan. One specific book where we finally see all of our cast working together would be The Mark of Athena, but I just recommend the entire series. This cast of characters is such a diverse bunch of young people that you can’t help but like. They are diverse in their races, sexual orientations and just overall personalities, and it is a great series for all ages to read!

Sleeping Beauty – A Book That Put You to Sleep

So, for English class, I have to read a lot of books…like a lot. Some I don’t like and some I do however the book I am reading right now for this class is a challenge to read. The idea of the story is great and interesting, but the actual story and how the author portrays it for the reader to see puts me to sleep. That book is Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden. I have to read it out loud to actually understand what I’m reading, and yesterday I sat down to read it and it took me 45 MINUTES TO READ ONLY 17 PAGES! What is this witchcraft? What?

The Lion King – A Character Who Had Something Traumatic Happen to Them In Childhood

A lot of characters fit the bill for this one, but to be a little creative I decided to go with Tavvy Blackthorn from The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. So this kid is the youngest of the Blackthorn family (he’s currently seven) and his has mother died, his father was turned into a Dark Shadowhunter and then killed, when he was really little his brother Mark was taken away by faeries, and a lot more that I can’t say because of spoilers. This kid has had a LOT happen to him and he is only seven years old! To say that he had “something” traumatic happen to him in childhood is a bit of an understatement.

Beauty and the Beast – A Beast of a Book (A Big Book) That You Were Intimidated By But Found the Story to Be Beautiful In the End

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas is about 416 pages which is an average fantasy book size, however, it is a high fantasy book so I was intimidated because of that. Once I got into it though, I really, really enjoyed it and just flew through it!

Aladdin – A Character Who Gets Their Wish Granted, For Better or Worse

In To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved before, and even though she never intended for them to get out, it works out for her in the end when they do. She ends up with one of the boys she wrote a letter to, and while she never consciously wished to send them out, she did address them so deep down I think she did!

Mulan – A Character Who Pretends to be Something or Someone They Aren’t

Ooooh, Sebastian Morgenstern from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. He definitely pretends to be someone he is not, but I won’t go into specifics in case anyone here has not gotten that far yet in the series.

Toy Story – A Book with Characters You Wish Would Come to Life

I am going to have to do a double answer for this one and say the characters from The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. They would be such an awesome group of friends to have not only because they are all funny, nice and just plain cool, but they also have AWESOME powers being the children of gods!

My favourite villain is really any villain from The Vampire Diaries (I haven’t read the book so I’m cheating using the TV show but whatever). Katherine, Klaus, and Kai (haha all K’s) are hands down some of the best-developed villains ever created. They do what is best for only them and sometimes the small, small, small circle of people they love and overall, they just see their way as right. We still see them as a human though which is why I think they are such great villains.

There it is! Those are my answers for the Disney Book Tag which I loved because who doesn’t love Disney? If you haven’t done this tag and want to then do it because it was a lot of fun! Also, don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media accounts for more bookish and writing related content. Thanks 🙂